Questions and Answers
Drip irrigation is an irrigation method that uses a high volume of water to irrigate crops.
False
Fertigation can be easily included in drip irrigation with minimal waste of fertilizers.
True
Clogging is a major advantage of drip irrigation.
False
The available water in the soil is calculated by adding the field capacity and the permanent wilting point.
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Monoculture is a practice of producing or growing multiple crops over a wide area.
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Moisture stress at the flowering and pod formation stage in beans can lead to increased flower production.
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Efficient irrigation systems should always saturate the entire soil profile, including the zone below the root zone.
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The initial cost of drip irrigation is always less than overhead systems.
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The centre pivot irrigation method involves a tractor attached to a flexible line that drags it from place to place.
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The method of irrigation application is only important in areas where water is abundant and inexpensive.
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The amount of water required by a plant is determined by its root system and stage of development.
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Salinity and drainage capability are not important factors in determining the method of irrigation.
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Monoculture cropping systems are more labor-intensive than poly-culture systems.
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Crop rotation is a method of growing multiple crops in the same space at the same time.
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Protected agriculture involves growing crops in open fields with no manipulation of weather conditions.
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Hydroponics systems use soil to provide nutrients to plants.
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Monoculture cropping systems are more resistant to disease due to the diversity of crops.
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Alley cropping is a type of crop rotation.
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Organic farming uses synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to maintain soil productivity.
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Drip irrigation systems have no advantages.
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Polyculture and monoculture are the same thing.
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Crop production systems can use a solid medium, such as perlite, gravel, or Rockwool, to support plant growth.
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Crop rotation is not a method used in organic farming to maintain soil productivity.
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Sprinkler irrigation is only used when flood or furrow irrigation is practical.
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Sprinkler system consists of a pumping unit and guns.
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The permanent set type of sprinkler irrigation involves portable handset lines.
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Wheel lines in sprinkler irrigation are used to increase labor.
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Centre pivot sprinkler irrigation requires manual operation of the line.
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Sprinkler irrigation helps in uniform wetting of the surface area.
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Study Notes
Water Use in Soil
- Available water (AW) = Field Capacity (FC) - Permanent Wilting Point (PWP)
- Factors affecting water use in soil:
- Soil type
- Root system
- Weather conditions
- Stage of plant development
Determining Water Requirements
- Two main approaches:
- Measurement of soil or plant water status
- Calculation of water availability from meteorological data
- Critical stage of irrigation: flowering and pod formation in beans
- Moisture stress at this stage can result in flower abscission and ovule abortion
Irrigation Methods
- Centre pivot
- Hose drag
- Drip/trickle irrigation (microirrigation)
- Advantages:
- High water distribution efficiency
- Less water needed
- Less interference with cultural practices
- Lower labor cost
- Fertigation can be included
- Disadvantages:
- Expensive initial cost
- Clogging of equipment
- Roots may be restricted to small volume of wetted soil
- Salts may concentrate on soil surface near wetted area
- Advantages:
Crop Production Systems
- Cropping system: a community of plants managed by a farm unit to achieve human goals
- Field production: production of different crops in open fields under normal environment conditions
- Monoculture: growing a single crop over a wide area
- Organic farming:
- Avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
- Relies on crop rotation, integrated pest management, crop residues, animal manures, and mechanical cultivation
- Maintains soil productivity and controls weeds, insects, and other pests
- Polyculture:
- Growing multiple crops in the same space
- Maintains diversity of natural ecosystems
- Avoids large stands of single crops
- Includes crop rotation, multi-cropping, intercropping, companion planting, beneficial weeds, and alley cropping
- Poly-culture advantages:
- Avoids susceptibility of monocultures to disease
- Provides habitat for more species, increasing local biodiversity
Protected Agriculture
- Use of glass/green houses or shade houses to produce crops out of season or extend production season
- Hydroponics: growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions instead of soil
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